R-House - ARO Architecture Research Office

R-House is an affordable, innovative paradigm for minimal energy consumption embodied in architecture that nurtures the spirit and engages the community.

man passes in front of R-House, the passive house

Sheathed with recycled aluminum, the house’s simple folded surface recalls the appearance and scale of neighboring gabled houses.

Designed for high economic and practical performance, R-House strengthens the physical and social structure of Syracuse’s Near Westside neighborhood. The project is one of three prototypes that were selected through an international design competition.

a man looks up at a woman on a stair landing that's open to a bright living space

Humble materials of concrete and structural wood floor deck, imbue the interior with warmth and integrity.

R-House is a certified Passivhaus, meeting the stringent German standard. Its compact exterior belies expansive and luminous spaces within. Windows open to views of the neighborhood and are positioned to receive warming south light.